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Financial institutions given more time for FATCA implementation; Shome discusses impact of expert committee report; Amazon's actions provoke calls for VAT reform; and How the FCE Bank ruling could help claimants behind M&S

Elizabeth Askey Multinational professional services firm PwC has strengthened its US Tax Controversy and Dispute Resolution practice with the addition of Elizabeth Askey as a principal. Askey, who is based in PwC's Washington office, is a former associate tax legislative counsel at the Treasury's Office of Tax Policy.

Consultations of various descriptions are a popular method for tax authorities to assess the feasibility of measures they are considering or are already in place. If they take place in public, they provide professionals with the assurance that they have a genuine opportunity to influence tax policymaking, and indicate to officials whether they are moving in the right direction.

George Clarke Law firm Baker & McKenzie has added extensive experience to its tax disputes practice in Washington, DC, by appointing George Clarke as a partner from Miller & Chevalier. Clarke, who was an associate at Baker from 2003 to 2008, has extensive experience in all facets of the tax dispute resolution process including litigation of civil and criminal tax matters.

Starbucks has gone to great pains to boost its corporate social responsibility (CSR) credentials by trumpeting fair trade products and environmentally sustainable practices, but after a scandal over the amount of tax it pays in the UK sullied its reputation, other companies may look to avoid its mistake by placing tax at the heart of their CSR agendas.

Bernd Uwe Stucken has joined Pinsent Masons to launch the UK firm's China tax practice in Shanghai. Stucken, who moved from Salans along with Wei Yun, a legal director, and two others, advises clients on the tax aspects of inbound investment into China, M&A and enterprise restructuring.

Ireland has used tax policy wisely in its effort to fix its economy. What businesses need from this year’s Budget and in the next few years is certainty, believes Martin Phelan, president of the Irish Tax Institute.

Marco Pace KPMG in the US has boosted its economic and valuation services practice by hiring Marco Pace. Pace has returned to KPMG as a principal in the firm's Economic and Valuation Services (EVS) practice, and will be based in New York for the new role.

Cross-border transactions and interpretation of related international tax treaties often involves controversies and issues concerning interpretation of treaty provisions and thereby leads to litigation with tax authorities. A recent judgment of the Tax Tribunal (Tribunal) in India in the case of Apollo Hospital Enterprises Limited (AHEL), has given rise to a debate regarding the interpretation of the expression “may be taxed” used in the India – Sri Lanka double taxation avoidance agreement (Treaty). Sanjay Sanghvi and Ashish Mehta, of Khaitan & Co, explore the implications.

Erik Øxnevad Larsen, Deloitte The Norwegian tax authorities consider such activity to be liable for tax, however their interpretation of the Petroleum Tax Act is probably incorrect. The purpose of the Norwegian Petroleum Tax Act is to secure authorisation to tax the "core" oil activities, meaning exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbons in the seabed. However, also any activity "connected therewith" is taxable in Norway provided that such activities are performed within the geographical scope of the Act (see sections 1 and 2 of the Act).